Scotland set to name Strachan as manager

15 January 2013 11:47

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Scotland will name Gordon Strachan as their new manager on Tuesday, according to British press reports, as the Scottish Football Association (SFA) announced a news conference at their Hampden Park heaquarters.

Former Celtic manager Strachan, 55, has long been the overwhelming favourite to replace Craig Levein, who was axed in November after a poor start to a World Cup qualifying campaign that left Scotland's hopes of playing at Brazil 2014 in tatters.

The SFA have scheduled a news conference for 12 pm local time (1200 GMT).

Strachan, who as a midfielder with Aberdeen, Manchester United and latterly Leeds, won 50 caps for Scotland and had four successful years as Celtic boss from 2005 to 2009.

But he has been out of management since leaving English club Middlesbrough in October 2010.

If he is confirmed as national manager, Strachan's first game in charge will be a friendly against Estonia at Pittodrie on February 6, before two World Cup qualifiers in March.

Scotland host Wales at Hampden on March 22 and are away to Serbia four days later.

Strachan has always made clear his aim to manage Scotland, telling broadcaster ITV in November: "It's quite simple really, it would be an honour to be asked to be the manager of your own national side, it's terrific.

"I could sit here and say 'yes, it would be great' or 'no, it's not for me' but it would also be arrogant of me to answer that if nobody has asked you and presume that someone will ask.

"Until you've been asked a question about a job, any job, then you really don't know how you'd go about it that's for sure. I wouldn't have the arrogance to think that someone is going to knock on my door."

Under-21 coach Billy Stark was in charge for Scotland's last match, a 2-1 friendly win in Luxembourg in November.